Catholic Social Teaching and Shelley Essay examples

Submitted By mrider2760
Words: 524
Pages: 3

Someone could say that Frankenstein does not parallel Catholic Social Teachings because of the Monster is not Dr. Frankenstein's biological or adopted child but he did create the Monster and bring him into the world therefore he has responsibility for the Monster. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein parallels Catholic Social Teaching.

By abandoning the Monster which he created, Dr. Frankenstein first portrays individualism. First, Frankenstein’s monster feels abandoned like a neglected child. When pondering his lonely thoughts, the Monster thinks, “When I was unseen and unknown, and which rather increased than satisfied the desire I had of becoming one among my fellows” (Shelley 85). By thinking this, the Monster informs the reader of how disowned he feels which then makes it apparent to the reader that the Monster feels the way a neglected child would. The Monster then feels that he had not made out of love and for happiness. Later on, while telling one of his feelings, the Monster says, “all joy was a mockery which insulted my desolate state, and made me feel more painfully that I was not made for the enjoyment of pleasure” (Shelley 102). The Monsters statement makes it apparent again that he feels neglected by showing individualism which not only parallels Catholic Social Teaching but also is a characteristic of Romanticism which portrays the time period of when Frankenstein was written. Lastly, the Monster exhibits the behaviors of one who has experienced child abuse or neglect. When threatening to kill Dr. Frankenstein's loved ones the Monster says, "if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear...because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred" (Shelley 104). This shows individualism on the Monster's be half because he only cares about feeling love that he does not worry about showing love for others around him as well. INSERT TRANSITION SENTENCE HERE!!!!!!!

Lastly, the society as a whole shows the ideals of discrimination towards the Monster. The Monster makes it apparent to the reader that he feels discriminated by